[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 268 # Storia do Mogor 268: Aurangzeb's Haughty Letter to the Qila'hdar of Aduni. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 268 - **Language:** English ### [268](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.268) Holding the fortress of Aduni, a place belonging to the kingdom of Bijapur, there was a governor called Xidi Maxaud (Sidi Mas'ud) Abaxi (Habshi), or African, born in India. This man declined to hand over the place to the said king (Aurangzeb). To force a surrender, the latter sent his valiant general Guiazudin Can (Ghazi-ud-din Khan), in the belief that he would speedily compel a capitulation by an investment and attacks in various directions. The brave African held out vigorously, killing many of the king's men. On this being reported to him, the king caused a letter to be written to him, of which the following is a copy : 'Mas'ud, I warn you to repent before those evil days overtake you which you are preparing for yourself; and in addition you have delayed with the keys of the fortress of Aduni, and did not hand them over to the great Ghazi-ud-din Khan, whose arms are strengthened by my wealth. You have overlooked the gloomy repose made ready for you on the black bed \[the grave\]. I imagine you must be asleep, and your eyes shut. Have you forgotten that the councillors of Bijapur for a time held their heads high, but in the end were bound in heavy chains; while their ineffective power was trodden to dust beneath the horse-hoofs of the mighty armies led by my generals, and they were consumed. Dost thou remember Abdula Assen (Abu,l Hasan), of Gulkandah, who for twenty years, buffoon as he was, feigned to wear a crown and imagined he was governing? He likewise \[418\] fell a victim to the claws of wrath and valour of the eagles in my overwhelmingly powerful armies. His marrow was carried off as sustenance to the nests of the falcons in the other world, and he too slept covered with a black pall. I tell you what is to be your fate, so that you may know beforehand. At sight of this order, which is inexorable as death, your business is to obey, and deliver over the keys of the fortress to Ghazi-ud-din Khan, the victorious in war, and he will become your advocate in my presence concerning your misdeeds.' As an attestation, they attach to these formal orders a seal and the impression of their palm in saffron. These are as follows: \[A circular seal is here inserted as already produced at III. 32 of the Berlin text.\] \[419\] This is the royal seal with the name of Taimur-i-lang the Great and other kings, his descendants, as you will see by the words. Below it is the impression of the hand in saffron. \[Here comes the reproduction of the palm of a very small hand.\] \[420\] The African, finding his master taken and his kingdom destroyed, and being thus deprived of all hope of succour, was obliged to submit and have recourse to the intercessions of the said general, Ghazi-ud-din Khan, and in the end we shall see what reward he was to receive. - [Previous: 267](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.267) - [Next: 269](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.269) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.268](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.268) · Pramāṇa